Opening gardens for a good cause

June Bellingham in her garden

Open gardens, local arts and crafts, flower displays and a World War One exhibition will feature in Yelvertoft this weekend.

Residents from across the village will be opening their gardens to visitors over the three-day weekend.

The Yelvertoft Country Garden Festival will feature 10 open gardens and an exhibition of local arts and crafts opening at 11am, while a flower arrangement using only blooms grown in the village and nearby allotments will be on display. There will also be a WW1 exhibition at the history society room. Garden teas will be available from 3pm.

Local musicians will also be performing at a garden party on the evening Saturday, August 23.

Money raised will go to church funds with a percentage going to Action for Pulmonary Fribrosis.

Mrs June Bellingham, 75, of Styles Place, lost her husband Cliff earlier this year to Pulmonary Fibrosis. She will be opening up her garden, landscaped by her son Andy, a garden designer.

“I have a very small garden,” she said. “My son asked me what I wanted. I told him I wanted a water a feature as I like to hear the sound of running water. Cliff and I did a lot of shore walking in the Lake District. I sit and listen and it gives me a lot of pleasure. I just wanted to share and give something back.”

Earlier this year 50 Yelvertoft residents came together for a community supper in aid of Action for Pulmonary Fibrosis. They raised £1,000.

Mrs Bellingham, who has lived in Yelvertoft for more than 40 years, said: “I was very touched when I heard. It will be wonderful to have people coming together on the day.